Fu Yan, chief nurse of the AIDS ward in Beijing You'an Hospital, had spent much of her life making the last few months and days of sufferers of the deadly virus as comfortable as possible.

But the sight of a young man stricken with the disease five years ago made her realize just how many AIDS patients suffer in loneliness with only hospital staff for company.

"Such a feeling remains in my mind now," she told a conference held yesterday in Beijing, which called on all medical staff as well as residents in the capital to offer more help to people infected with AIDS.

While society is paying increasing attention to the spread of HIV/AIDS, care and help for AIDS patients are far from enough, said Xu Lianzhi, director of the AIDS ward in Beijing You'an Hospital.

Xu said her colleagues always talk with their patients to encourage and comfort them. They also try to persuade patients' families, who usually turn their back on loved ones when they fall, to give support.

"Years of work on the AIDS ward has made me realize AIDS cannot be curbed by the efforts of medical staff alone," Xu said. "AIDS patients need a home."

The "home of love and care," was set up on November 26, 1998, based on the AIDS ward of the hospital. This is the first non-governmental organization in China that aims at looking after AIDS patients.

Apart from treating patients, the "home" also trains grassroots medical staff from all over the country and carries out public welfare activities.

The "home of love and care" for AIDS patients is not alone in the capital. Beijing Ditan Hospital has also set up "home of red ribbon," which also offers support and care for people with HIV.

"HIV/AIDS is like a fruit knife, which is dangerous because it is sharp," said Pu Cunxin, a famous film star who is one of China's AIDS Prevention spokespersons.

"But no one is afraid of a fruit knife," he said. "And people should not be afraid of HIV/AIDS, either, if they know how to keep themselves away from it." Pu vowed that instead of always speaking publicly about AIDS, he would do something concrete for people infected.

(China Daily November 15, 2001)